Clothes back



Aug? 31, 1948 u I H. J. CRINERy 2,448,253

CLOTHES RACK Filed ct. s. 1946 Patented Aug. 31, 1948 l oLo'rHEs RACK Harry J. Criner, Davenport,lIowa, assignor or 1 one-half to A. G. Bush, Davenport, Iowa Application october 3, 1946, serial No. 700,966

e claims. 1

My invention relates to improvements in clothes racks.v

The objects of my invention are to provide -a simple, inexpensive clothes rack which can be folded up so as to occupy a minimum of space;

Figure 2 is a top or plan view of the same as attached to the back of a chair; y

Figure 3 is a side elevation showing the rack attached to a chair;

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail showing the method cf supporting the arms; v

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional detail on the line 5-5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional detail on the line 5-5 of Figure l4, but showing the arms 3 in depending position;

Figure 7 shows a plan view of an alternate form;

Figure 8 -a front view of such alternatey form, and Figure 9 a side elevation of the alternate form;

Fig. 10 shows an alternate form of bracket for attaching the frame to the back of a chair.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the sever-al views. f l l' My apparatus comprises a 'frame I preferably composed of a flat bar of metal formed into elliptical form and having rigidly secured thereto a pair of brackets 2-2 having resilient legs spaced apart adapted to embrace the backV bar I0 of a chair I I or other suitable support.

These brackets 2 are preferably for-med of resilient metal which will grip the back of a chair rmly, but as shown in Figure 10 at numeral 2,I, one leg of the bracket may be provided with a. thumbscrew 8 threaded therein having a ilat head formed upon the inner end and adapted to clamp the bracket rmly upon the bar -I0.

A plurality of arms 3 are adjustably mounted upon the frame I. The inner end of each arm 3 is provided with a slot 4 which is large enough to fit closely upon the flat bar frame I. In order to secure the slotted ends of the arm 3 against splitting and in order to form a suitable hanger for them, I mount in the innerV end of each arm 3 a heavy wire member 5 which passes through a suit-A l.

able bore 4.I formed in the end of each arm 3 adjacent the slot 4. The wire 5 is then bent down firmly against the edges of the arm 3 and holds firmly just as a rivet or bolt would do.

The outer portion of the wire 5 is formed into a ring shape adapted to surround the frame I and allow the arm to hang downwardly from the frame when the slot 4 is detached from the frame I.

In constructing this device, I prefer to pass the wire 5 through the bore 4.| in the end of the arm 3, then bend the wire down tightly against the arm and bend the free ends of the wire into the form of a ring 5 enclosing the frame I. The ends of the wire 5 are then soldered or spot-welded or otherwise secured together.

In the form of my apparatus shown in Figures 7, 8 and 9, the frame .is bent on its long axis at right angles so that the upturned portion 6 may be placed in contact with a wall I2 and secured thereon by nails or screws 6.I or other suitable means, the remaining half of the frame I `being embraced Within the slots 4 -of the arms 3.

The arms may be of any desired length and either round or square in section, but I have found a length of twenty-four to thirty inches satisfactory for most purposes.

While my apparatus is designed primarily to hang up small washings for drying purposes and for hanging up freshly ironed articles to complete drying thereof, it may also be used to suspend heavy articles of clothing if desired.

When theapparatus is mounted upon a chair, the ar-ms 3 may be spaced to extend in all direc,- tions so that the weight on the front arms 3 will tend to counterbalance the weight upon the rear members to aid in preventing the chair from tipping over backwardly. 'l

It is obvious that various modifications may be made in the size, shape, arrangement and materials of the various elements without departing from the spirit of my invention and I do not limit my claims to the precise -forms shown in the drawings.

I claim:

1. A clothes rack comprising a at metal frame with supporting brackets rigidly united thereto whereby the brackets may straddle the back of a. chair or other suitable support and secure the frame thereto in horizontal position, a plurality of arms having their inner ends slotted to engage the frame and adapted to be held in horizonta1 position thereby. and means mounted upon the inner ends of the arms to reenforce the slotted portions against splitting and suspend the ted portions against splitting and suspend the A arms from the frame when the slots are detached from the frame, said means comprising reenforcing wires respectively passing through thearms adjacent the inner ends 'of the slots and bent into rigid contact with the top and bottom of the arms adjacent the slots to prevent splitting of the arms and with the outer ends of the wires extended to encircle the frame and to suspend the arms from the frame when the slots are disengaged therefrom.

3. A clothes rack comprising an open flat-metal frame with supporting brackets rigidly united thereto whereby the frame may be secured in horizontal positionvupon the back of a chair or ing through bores in the arms adjacent the inner ends of the slots and bent into rigid contact with `the sides of the arms on opposite sides of the slots to prevent splitting of the arms.

4. A clothes rack comprising an Open flatmetal frame with supporting brackets rigidly united thereto whereby the frame may be secured horizontally upon the back of a chair or other suitable support, a plurality of arms having their inner ends slotted to engage the frame and adapted to be held in horizontal position thereby, and reenforcing wires respectively passing through bores in the arms adjacent the inner ends of the slots and bent into rigid contact with `the top and bottom of the arms adjacent the slots to preventsplitting of the arms and with the outer ends of the wires extended to encircle the frame and to suspend the arms from the frame when the slots are disengaged therefrom,

5. In a clothes rack having a plurality of slotted arms, a reenforcing member for each arm comprising a heavy wire inserted in a bore in the arm adjacent the inner end of the slot and bent into rigid contact with the arm on opposite sides of the slot, the ends of the wire being then formed the bar and to be held in horizontal position thereby, and wires mounted upon the inner ends of the arms arranged to reenforce the slotted portions against splitting and to suspend the arms from the bar when the slots are disengaged from the bar.

7. In a clothes rack having a plurality of slotted arms, a reenforcing member for each arm comprising a heavy wire inserted in a bore in the arm adjacent the inner end of the slot and bent into rigid contact with the arm adjacent the slot.

S. In a clothes rack, the combination with an open nat-metal frame, of brackets rigidly united thereto whereby the frame may be secured upon the baickof a chair or other suitable support, a plurality of arms having their inner ends slotted to engage the frame and adapted to be held in hOriZQntal position thereby, and means mounted upon the inner ends of the arms to reenforce the slotted portions against splitting and suspend the arms from the frame when the slots are detached from the frame, said means including reenforcing wires respectively passing through bores in the arms adjacent the inner ends of the slots and bent into rigid contact with the sides of the arms on opposite sides of the slots.

9. In a clothes rack, the combination with an open flat-metal frame, of brackets rigidly united thereto whereby the frame may be secured upon the back of a chair or other suitable support, a plurality lof arms having their inner ends slotted to engage the frame and vadapted to be held in horizontal position thereby, and means mounted upon the inner ends of the arms to reenforce the slotted portions against splitting and suspend the arms from the frame when the slots are detached from the frame, said means including reenforcing wires respectively passing through bfores in the arms adjacent the inner ends or" the slots and bent into rigid contact with the sides of the arms on opposite sides of the slots and with the outer ends of the wires extended to encircle the frame and to suspend the arms from the frame when the slots are disengaged therefrom.

HARRY J. CRINER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

'UNITED STATES PA'IEN'IS Name Date Schaefer et al Sept. 3, 1872 Smith July 24, 1883 Freeman July 14, 1891 Laro Apr. 29, 1913 Sterling Feb. 2, 1926 Carter Mar. 7, 1933 Hoobler Sept. 16, 1941 Number 

